Those Whom We Dare Not Offend

LONDON (Reuters) – A British cleric and top-selling author of children’s books was thrown out of a school where he said Harry Potter was “gay” during a talk to 12-year-olds.

Reverend Graham Taylor, who penned the novel “Shadowmancer” which, like the tales of the famous boy wizard created by J.K. Rowling, centers on witchcraft and battling evil, got his marching orders after teachers accused him of homophobia.

“As for Harry Potter, well, he’s not the only gay in the village,” Taylor told children at Penair School in Truro, southwest England, referring to a catchphrase from the popular British comedy TV show “Little Britain”.

He also said villains in Rowling’s blockbuster series were “wimps” and called TV “crap” compared to books.

Teachers stopped Taylor’s talk and asked him to leave.

“We were very disappointed to have to curtail a visit from Mr Taylor,” the school said in a statement on Thursday.

Taylor, whose book topped the British book charts for 15 weeks with the film rights also sold for 2.25 million pounds, was unrepentant and accused staff of censorship.

“It was a joke; a joke from ‘Little Britain’ that the children would know,” Taylor was quoted by newspapers as saying.

Committed ‘homosexualist’ Daffyd lives in the Welsh town of Llanddewi Brefi. Proud to be gay, Daffyd flaunts his sexuality in variety of rubber outfits, to the villagers’ complete indifference. He refuses to accept he’s not the only ‘gayer’ in the village, and is outraged when fellow gays trespass on his patch.

Problem is ‘gayers’ don’t have a sense of humor about perceived offenses.

It’s clear that Reverend Taylor didn’t call Harry Potter gay (just like James Dobson didn’t call SpongeBob Squarepants gay). His point was simply that there’s more to literature than Harry Potter.

Reuters chose to portray Taylor as the buffoon here instead of the teachers who reacted like screaming coeds in a slasher film when they thought — *gasp!* — he might have implied that homosexuality was improper! Quick! Get him out of the building before he offends the children again!

The teachers and the reporter for Reuters need to be lined up and slapped with a dead flounder.